Getting What You Want?: A Critique of Liberal Morality (Ideas) - Softcover

Brecher, Bob

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415129524 ISBN 13: 9780415129527

Publisher: Routledge, 1997

Synopsis

Getting What You Want? is the first book which calls for the collapse of liberal morality. Bob Brecher claims that it is wrong to think that morality is simply rooted in what people want. He explains that in our consumerist society, we make the assumption that getting 'what people want' is our natural goal, and that this 'natural goal' is a necessarily good one. We see that whether it is a matter of pornography or getting married - if people want it, then that's that. But is this really a good thing?
Getting What You Want? offers a critique of liberal morality and an analysis of its understanding of the individual as a 'wanting thing'. Brecher boldly argues that the Anglo-American liberalism cannot give an adequate account of moral reasoning and action, nor any justification of moral principles or demands. Ultimately, Brecher shows us that the whole idea of liberal morality is not only incoherent but unattainable.

About this title

About the Author

Bob Brecher teaches philosophy at Brighton University. He is the author of Anselm's Argument (1984), and he is the co-editor of The University in a Liberal State (1995) and Liberalism and the New Europe (1992).

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415129524
• ISBN 13: 9780415129527
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 232